Thursday, June 02, 2011

Priests serving N.S. diocese decline as scandals, outmigration hurt church

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Antigonish, N.S., is trying to cope with a drop in the number of priests and an increase in the average age of those who remain.

In 1996 there were 82 priests with an average age of 56 serving area churches.

This year there are only 50 and they average 61 years of age.

Diocese spokesman Rev. Paul Abbass says the reasons for the decline include church scandals, youth outmigration and the fact some people no longer want to commit to serve others.

The area's former bishop recently pleaded guilty to importing child pornography and the diocese is saddled with a huge legal settlement following sex abuse scandals.